Driver's Education: Take 2

Spent the first two hours of Orientation this morning taking a course to become a certified van driver. I have my official certificate and all to prove it. The course was painfully long, outdated, and filled with common knowledge about driving. Considering this month will mark a decade that I have been operating heavy machinery, I figure driving a van cannot be that difficult.

Things I learned this morning:

• Vans are larger, wider, and heavier than regular cars.
• No good deed goes unpunished: Waving a pedestrian across a street could result in you getting a ticket if you cause an accident or cause the pedestrian to be hit.
• When transporting cargo, "light and small on top, big and heavy on bottom."
• It is important to have a helper when backing and make sure you have discussed appropriate hand signals (i.e. stopping).
• At all times, it is essential to have a "cushion of safety" surrounding your vehicle. Steer cleer of all traffic and obstructions.

We have a small break before lunch and then will probably spend the afternoon in the Office. It's raining today and though Athens desperately needs the rain, it makes me want to stay indoors.

Stayed up last night watching Phelps add two more gold medals to his mantle and watch the women's team lose the gold in gymnastics. It was definitely exciting to watch but saddening. Poor Shawn Johnson.

Cheers.